Found a Wasp Nest in Your Loft in Barnsley? Here's What to Do
The nest has been treated, and the temptation is to tidy up straight away. Clearing up in the wrong order or with the wrong tools can cause stings or a mess.
The mistake: rushing the clear-up
After a treatment, the sight of dead wasps on the floor and a paper nest in the roof makes many people want to get everything cleaned in an afternoon. They fetch the vacuum cleaner, haul the loft ladder down and pull the nest out in one go. In doing so they tend to meet the exact hazards the treatment was meant to remove.
Wasps that look dead are not always dead. Some may still be moving slowly, and a wasp that is picked up in a hand or sucked into a hose can still sting. A paper nest that appears abandoned may still have a few wasps attached to it. And wasps out foraging at the time of the visit may return to find the entrance changed, circling for a while before they leave.
Anyone in Barnsley dealing with the aftermath should work slowly, take their time and follow a sensible order.
A little patience goes a long way. Even a few hours of waiting after the technician leaves lets returning wasps settle and the rooms quieten down, so you tackle one clear-up rather than two.
Checklist: clearing up, step by step
Do these in order, and only when the technician has said it is fine to use the area.
- Put on gloves, long sleeves and closed shoes.
- Start with the rooms below the loft, since that is where dead wasps usually land. Use a brush and a pan, not your hands.
- Tip them into a bag, tie it up and put it in the outside bin.
- Check window ledges, curtain folds, the tops of doors and the corners of the ceiling. Wasps seek light and gather at windows.
- Wipe the surfaces with a damp cloth.
- Only then consider the loft itself, and only after the technician has said it is safe to enter.
Resist the urge to hurry. The aim is a calm, safe clear-up, not a record time.
It helps to have everything ready before you start: gloves, a stiff brush, a pan, bin bags and a damp cloth. Having the tools to hand means you are not walking back and forth through rooms with a wasp in your hand. Open a window in the room you are working in so any returning wasp has a clear route out, and keep the door to the rest of the house shut.
Why not the vacuum
A vacuum cleaner seems efficient, but it has drawbacks. A wasp pulled into the hose may survive for a while, and when the bag is later emptied or the bin opened, it can come out angry. The suction can also pull at a nest and bring down pieces of paper and any wasps inside. If you prefer a vacuum for loose debris after the main job is done, make sure you empty it outdoors and dispose of the contents sealed in a bag, but a brush and pan is the better choice for the wasps themselves.
Pets and children deserve a thought too. Dead wasps can still sting, and a dog or a small child may pick one up out of curiosity. Keep them in another room until you are sure the floor is clear.
The nest paper itself
The grey, papery shell of the nest may be left in the loft after treatment. Often there is no harm in leaving it where it is, provided you keep the hatch closed and do not disturb it. If you would like it taken down, ask whether that is possible when you book rather than attempting it yourself.
If you decide to remove it later, do so in cool conditions, with gloves and a bin bag, and handle it gently. A heavy nest can be fragile, and pieces break away and fall into insulation. Keep the work slow and tidy.
Do not store the empty nest or keep it as a curiosity unless you are certain it is completely inactive. A sheltered space can attract a queen in a later spring, so ask the technician about closing the entrance once the nest is cleared.
Insulation deserves special care. Wasps and nest fragments can fall into it, so if you do go up after the all-clear, move slowly, look before you step, and avoid lifting or shaking the insulation around where the nest hung.
Checking the house afterwards
In the days after the visit, look over the house for stragglers. A few wasps near the old entrance is normal as foragers come home. If you continue to see steady activity after several days, tell us when you book again, since there may be a second nest.
If you are stung while clearing up, wash the area, remove the sting if visible and apply a cold pack. For swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing, wheeze, dizziness or a widespread rash, call 999.
Look at the ceiling below the loft too. Any stain or soft patch should be left until you are sure the nest is dealt with, and a builder can then advise on repair.
If you still need to book
If you are reading this before the visit, the clear-up will make more sense once the treatment is done. Call 0113 347 0014 or use the online form on the contact page. The price is confirmed on the phone before the visit, and nothing is done without your agreement. Treatment is a fixed £90 per nest, with no call-out charge, and £35 for an additional nest at the same property. A trained, fully insured technician attends, seven days a week, with same-day service for homes and businesses.
Wasps on your property in Barnsley?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.